Firefly Duet: New Beginnings and Lasting Love Read online

  “Earlier this afternoon. I wanted to see where you and Anthony grew up and to speak with your folks.”

  “Ignore my brother,” Mia Russo said. “He’s—”

  “Right.” Jim finished her sentence then leaned his forehead against Sofia’s. “If I do this in front of everyone, will you come back with me to Ashnee Valley so we can do this again? Just you and me.”

  “This is so romantic,” Aunt Nora said.

  “What’d he say? What’d he say?”

  “He’s going to declare himself to her for all of us to see,” Aunt Nora explained to the group. “And then he’s going to do it again in Colorado when it is just the two of them.”

  “He’s not going to propose?”

  “Rudy,” Frank scolded. “Go ahead Jim, we’re ready.”

  “Dad!” Sofia put her hands on his cheeks. “I’m sorry about this.”

  “Okay, everybody.” Jim laughed and lifted Sofia from his lap and knelt on the steps next to her seat. “Sofia, I came here tonight because I want to give you everything you want in life. I didn’t give you the chance to decide any of that for yourself because I was scared to tell you how I felt before you left. I don’t want to spend another day apart from you. There are some things we’ll need talk about between us. I’d like to do that part alone.”

  He grinned when Sofia pointed at her family and zipped her lips in warning.

  “Will you come back to Ashnee Valley with me on the red-eye tonight?”

  “Yes.”

  He stood, leaning forward to hand tickets to Frank, Mia, and Delia. “These are for you to join us soon. I’d like you to spend some time with my family as part of any decisions the two of us may make.”

  Then he put out his hand, pulled the woman he loved to her feet, and kissed her with all that he was and all he hoped to be.

  For her.

  For him.

  For love.

  Jim tucked his jacket underneath the seat in front of him and fastened his seat belt. “Ready?” he asked, glancing at Sofia next to him.

  “Ready.” She pulled her hair into a ponytail. “Same as last time or are we changing the rules?”

  “Lightning round. No passes. Sex questions permitted.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Right.”

  He cleared his throat. “When I say I want to wake up with you every day of the rest of my life, do you know it to be true?”

  His heart beat fast as her eyes held his, a soft pink spreading to her cheeks.

  “Yes.”

  “When I tell you I want to give you everything you want in life, do you believe me?”

  “Yes,” she answered softly.

  “If I told you I can’t give you everything, something you may want, do you think you could still want me?”

  Her voice was gentle as she took his hand. “What’s going on? You can tell me.”

  “I don’t want to lose you, Sofia. I didn’t say how I felt before you left because I can’t be everything you need. I can’t have children. Not biologically. I’ve known for most of my life. It never really mattered to me until you.”

  “Do you want children?” she asked, her eyes searching his. “Is that important to you?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I’ve known it wasn’t possible for so long, I’ve become comfortable with how things are. I just...want you. But I know that may not be enough.”

  He waited, suffering through the long pause before she responded.

  “I want to do this differently,” she said.

  “I understand…” He stopped talking when she squeezed his hand.

  “No, you don’t.” She shook her head. “This. I want this. I want a different life than my brother wanted. After he died, I felt I should make up for the fact that he was gone and do all the things he would have. I was scared I’d disappoint my family. But I don’t want to miss out on being with you.” She shifted in her seat, her knees bumping his as she lifted the arm rest and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s my turn. When I say I want to wake up with you every day of the rest of my life, do you know it to be true?”

  Her hopeful face lifted to his, her big brown eyes seeking.

  “Yes.”

  “When I tell you I want to give you everything you want in life and that I want you, and that’s enough, do you believe me?”

  “I do.”

  He put his hand to her cheek, an enormous grin on his face as she shifted closer.

  “I love you, Jim.”

  “I love you too, sweetheart.” His lips met hers, igniting a slow-burn kiss that made him groan when the steward stopped to ask Sofia to put her seatbelt on.

  “Good game.” Sofia laughed as she moved back to her seat.

  “We have a few more hours, we can keep playing.” He leaned close to her ear as the airplane taxied to the runway. “I could suggest all the ways I’d like to give you pleasure as soon as we get home.”

  The sexiest smirk whispered across her lips. “Yes, please.”

  Chapter 24

  Colorado…two weeks later

  “What’s this place?” Sofia said, her arms around Jim’s waist as he brought the horse to a stop in front of an old structure on the edge of the lodge property.

  “For now, it’s shelter. Look up.” Dismounting, he held her around the waist and set her on the ground. Angry black storm clouds pushed in. At the top of Mercy Mountain, lightning struck.

  “Where did a storm come from so fast?”

  “You know Ashnee Valley by now, weather moves in quick and, fortunately, moves out nearly as fast. We’ll have some shelter inside from the rain. Definitely the last burst of warmth for the season.”

  He estimated they had five minutes before the sky opened up.

  “What about your horse?”

  “There’s an overhang around back. I’m going to tuck her there. You go ahead inside. I’ll be right in.”

  As he secured Blaze, she waved his direction through missing slats in the wall at the back of the cabin.

  “Did someone live here?” she asked when he entered, walking the perimeter of the room.

  Not a piece of furniture remained except an old chair, a reject from an ancient dining set, he imagined. “No, it’s an old hunting cabin. I brought the blanket so we could sit.” Jim glanced around as rain started. “I guess we can sit as close to the front door as possible since there is no longer a room, besides the frame at the back.”

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a storm while half in and half out of a house.”

  He smiled at her amusement, pulling the single chair across the room. He pulled items out of the satchel, placing them on the blanket.

  “You should stay over at this end, Sofia, so you don’t get wet.”

  He glanced at her, pulling out the water bottles in slow motion when she gave him a look that, unless he was crazy, was as hot as July. Unsure of what she was up to, he determined not to interrupt its potential. After toeing off her shoes, she made her way across the blanket until she stood in front of him, nudging his knees apart.

  “I thought you said you were starving,” he said.

  She put her arms around his neck and bent forward, wiggling her behind. “I can wait.”

  “Are you trying to seduce me, madam?”

  Removing his hat, she flung it behind her onto the blanket.

  “Enough talking,” she said, eliciting a satisfied groan from deep in his chest. He put his thighs together and brought her down, straddling his lap. He started slow, running his tongue over her upper lip and sucking on her bottom lip.

  “Sofia.” He whispered softly. She squirmed on his lap, anxious. Without breaking his kiss, he slowly unbuttoned her shirt, pushing it aside, smiling with satisfaction as he took in the pink bra with the white lace. Her chest rose and fell, her breath accelerating, her nipples hardening under his gaze.

  “May I?” He unfastened the front of the bra and pushed it open. “So pretty.” Jim centered his hands over her nipples, barely to
uching each with the center of his palms.

  Sofia arched, pushing her breasts further into his hands. “Yes.”

  When he lifted his hand to her cheek, she turned, placing a kiss at the center of his palm. He took her arms from around his neck, pinning them behind her back. He lowered his head to suckle her breast, flitting his tongue back and forth, nipping the bud with his lips. He lifted his head. “Do you know how sexy you are?”

  Grinning at her face flushed bright pink, he coaxed her to stand. “Turn around.” He held her hips loosely as she turned before pulling her back down on his lap, resituating her so she straddled him again, this time her legs facing out. “This is what I was dreaming about on the horse. Lean back.”

  “But…” Her voice carried worry as she let her head rest against his shoulder.

  “It’s okay. It’s just you and me.”

  He brought her arm up and wrapped it around his neck as his other hand cupped one of her breasts and she arched, pushing her hips forward.

  “That’s it.”

  “Oh, God.” Sofia moaned as he cupped both her breasts.

  “Shhh,” Jim whispered, “let me.”

  “Please.”

  “So. Damn. Polite.” He timed each word with the release of the buttons on her pants, slipping his hand inside and circling her folds.

  “So. Damn. Wet.” His hand drifted, his fingers dipping in, then stroking up to circle before slipping back in. When she moaned, he whispered her name and opened his legs, forcing her to do the same. He gently pinched one of her nipples in rhythm with the circle of his fingers. He strained against his jeans, her bottom, for any sort of relief. The slightest scrape of his teeth on the smooth skin of her neck brought her orgasm pulsing around his touch. He savored every crack of thunder from the storm and her fluttering breath until her climax was spent. The softest “oh” escaped and her arm fell limp by her side.

  After several minutes, Jim gently lifted Sofia off his lap and stood. “I’m starving.”

  Her eyes settled on the brick in his pants when he stood. “Um,” Sofia said. “I could…”

  He shook his head. “I’m going to check outside.” He could have walked straight out the back of the ramshackle house, but instead his addled brain had him opening the front door and announcing Sofia should stay inside. At her muffled giggle he turned fixing his eyes on hers.

  “Put your pants on, woman.”

  She nodded and pressed her lips together. He let his eyes slip down to her still open shirt and bra.

  “Jesus.” He growled and closed the door behind him.

  The storm left the air unusually warm for the ride home. Sofia rested her head against Jim’s shoulder, the fingers of her left hand intertwined with his as they re-crossed the Talking Fish River. It was getting dark and voices carried across the valley and small shapes were visible dancing back and forth in front of the bonfire outside the log house.

  “Our home is full of family and our yard is full of Kai’s children.” Jim nuzzled behind her ear. “On the back of a horse is the only way to be alone with you.”

  “Our home. I like the sound of that.”

  “It feels right.”

  “It does.”

  “Are you all right with having RJ for a while? In addition to Rafe?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’m kicking all of them out for the night, including RJ.”

  She turned. “Why would you do that? Where will RJ go?”

  “RJ is staying at Dad’s. Rafe is going wherever, that’s his problem. Doc Cindy is going to drive Jett back to the rehab facility after.”

  “After?”

  He studied her profile, tucking her hair behind her ear, running soft kisses up the side of her neck. “Sofia, I couldn’t love you any more than I do. At least, I don’t think I could. But everything’s possible when it comes to you and me.” Moving his hands beneath her shirt he ran his fingers lightly over the smooth skin along her stomach. His fingers continued upward, lightly brushing the underside of her breasts. Damn, he loved the way she arched her back, the way she always leaned into him. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Sliding his hands down her sides, he reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a small box and held his hands in front of her, his arms naturally embracing her.

  “I want to be your husband. Tonight. Everyone’s back at the house waiting for us, including the sheriff. He’s a justice of the peace.”

  “You’re awfully sure of yourself,” she said with a gleam in her eyes.

  “I’m sure about you.” He leaned in, smiling when she lifted her shoulder as he tickled behind her ear with soft kisses.

  “And it just so happens my parents and best friend are at the house too. Clever man.”

  Her rich laugh floated over him. “Lucky man.” He sat tall again, her back against his chest. “This ring belonged to my Mom.” He opened the box. “Dad gave it to me the first day I got home to Ashnee Valley.”

  She shifted to look at him. “With me?”

  “With you.” He grinned as she faced forward again and held out her hand. “You’re ready for this?”

  She nodded as he slipped the ring on her finger.

  “Will you marry me, Sofia? I love you.”

  Nearby the soft glow of fireflies answered each other in the tall grass.

  “Yes.”

  Chapter 25

  Sofia put her key in the lock to Mercy Mountain Lodge, turned the handle and pushed the door open.

  “Surprise!” Her best friend Delia said, suddenly appearing.

  Sofia slammed her hand to her chest. “What are you doing here? I thought you went back to New York with my parents yesterday. You scared me to death.”

  “Don’t be silly. It’s just me.”

  Sofia tried to look past her friend blocking the doorway as if she owned the place and wasn’t letting anyone in. “Um..? That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.”

  Delia stepped onto the porch, closing the door behind her and rubbing her arms up and down. “It’s cold today.”

  Sofia gestured to the door again. “We could go inside, where it’s warmer. Then you could tell me what’s going on.” She turned at the sound of a vehicle, watching a black limousine head toward the lodge. “Who is that?”

  “This was going to be a surprise, but you got here earlier than expected.”

  “Since I don’t know what’s going on yet, it is a surprise.”

  Delia laughed. “Right. Okay, don’t freak out.”

  “Why would I freak out?” Sofia called after Delia as she went down the steps to greet whoever was in the fancy vehicle.

  “It’s a wedding gift.”

  “A limo? You know I hate that corny stuff.” Sofia sighed. “So does Jim, by the way. It’s cliché and besides we’re already married.”

  “Yes, you are. But we’re still having a real reception in the spring. The gift is not the limo, it’s the person inside. Rodney Kendall from Boston.”

  “Who? I don’t know anyone named Rodney. Wait. Kendall? As in Catherine Mannis? I mean Kendall. Kendall Publishing?”

  Delia waived away the driver and opened the back door to the limo herself. “The one and only,” she said, looking back for a brief second. “Hello, Mr. Kendall. Welcome.” Delia stepped aside as an elderly man emerged from the vehicle, wearing a camel-colored winter coat and black gloves.

  “Miss Kincaid. It’s nice to meet you in person. I once had the pleasure of seeing you perform a few years ago when I was in New York.”

  “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too. This is Sofia,” Delia said with a sweeping gesture to where Sofia stood frozen on the porch.

  “Cat got your tongue, baby girl?”

  Sofia whipped around looking at her husband and the rest of the Mannis family crowded in the open door to the lodge.

  “Shut up, Jett.” Jim grumbled. “I told you not to call her that.”

  “She loves it.” Jett grinned fro
m his wheelchair. “Don’t you, sis?”

  “Rodney.” Ben stepped past his sons onto the porch. “Welcome. Please come inside.”

  Taking her by the elbow, Jim gently led her inside first, smiling when she gasped. A string of lights hung from the rafters over a small but elegantly set round dining table in the middle of the room.

  “Jim, what is going on?” Sofia whispered. “Why is he here? What is all this?”

  “It’s a business meeting. For you and Kendall Publishing. About the book you talked to my dad about.”

  “Mrs. Mannis,” Rodney Kendall interrupted. “I apologize. I should first say congratulations to you and Jim on your recent wedding.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I take it you know I’m Catherine’s cousin?”

  “I…of course…call me Sofia…um.”

  Ben clapped his hands. “We’ll be on our way.”

  “Wait,” Sofia said as her family left through the front door one by one. “You’re all leaving?”

  “I’ll pick you up in an hour.” Jim winked.

  “I’m afraid I have a very short amount of time to hear your pitch for the book about Catherine’s sculptures.” Rodney said.

  “My pitch?”

  “Yes, for your photography book. I realize this could appear like an easy sell. All in the family. But I assure you there is none of that involved in making my decision.”

  Sofia took a deep breath, shrugged off her coat, and gestured to the table set for two. “Have you ever been here before, Mr. Kendall?”

  “This is my first visit to Ashnee Valley and the lodge.” He held the back of her chair as she sat, then took his own seat. “When Catherine died several years ago, I was unable to come to her funeral. Unfortunately, I was in the midst of a rather messy divorce at the time. I didn’t want the property here to somehow get in the mix. Legally, that never would have been the case. But the level of spite from my ex-wife could have caused unnecessary concern for Ben and the kids.”

  “I understand. But you’re familiar with Catherine’s work? You’ve seen her sculptures?”